Our Vision for the Lab

How does the brain turn from a healthy aging brain to an AD brain and how can we stop it!

The Flowers Lab is dedicated to investigating critical diseases of aging, with a primary focus on Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is profoundly devastating disease - not only for the sufferer, but also their family, communitites and society as a whole.

Our research centers on understanding how to detect and treat someone, before amyloid plaques and tau tangles begin to accumulate, halting the progression to AD - making AD a preventable disease!

We are developing highly sensitive mass spectrometry techniques to define blood-based biomarkers that can identify and monitor brain changes before pathology accumulation. We are also exploring therapeutic strategies aimed at these very early stages when brain metabolism is altered - particulalry in those carrying the APOE4 allele, who are at highter risk. Using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models, we are testing interventions designed to halt the progression before clinical symptoms arise.

You can learn more about our research on our research page.

Our vision is to identify individuals on the path to Alzheimer’s and intervene early—so that one day, no family will have to experience the burden of this devastating disease.

The Flowers Lab is a collaborative, supportive environment committed to rigorous and translational science. We deeply value our team members and our partnerships across foundational research, translational efforts, and clinical practice.  

—

Sarah Flowers
Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience

Some of our different iPSC-derived cells used in the lab. Astrocytes (banner), hepatocytes (above) and neurons (below).